Lid construction



Dec. 29, 1942. v

A. A. KOOYMAN LID CONSTRUCTION I Filed Feb. 10, 1941 :s Sheets-Sheet 1'llllll |uu MWvQW/ MM Q w .wc

Dec. 29, 1942. A. A. KooYMAN LID CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 10, 1941 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 29, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIDCONSTRUCTION Adrianus A. Kooyman, Chicago, Ill., assignor toInternational Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey 4 Claims.

This application is filed to take the place of the application ofAdrianus A. Kooyman, Serial Number 218,160, filed July 8, 1938, whichbecame abandoned.

This invention relates to a lid construction. More specifically, itrelates to an arrangement applicable to a-pair of lids of a refrigeratoror the like for locking the one lid to prevent its being opened whilethe other is open.

It is often desirable, in cases Where there are separate lids foradjacent compartments, that the one compartment be closed while theother is open. In refrigerator construction, for example, where thereare adjacent compartments for food and refrigerant, it is extremelydesirable that the lid to only one compartment be allowed to open at onetime. Constructions have already been devised for locking one lid whilean adjacent lid is open, but they have been complicated and generallyunsatisfactory.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction by whichthe opening of one lid of a pair of adjacent lids prevents the openingof the other lid.

Another object is the provision of a lid construction in which one lidis positively locked against opening while the other lid is open.

A further object is to provide in connection with a lid construction anarrangement for releasing the counterbalancing action of a spring 1.

intended to hold open a lid.

Still another object is the provision of a release mechanism for acounterbalancing spring in connection with a double lid construction.

A further object is to provide a lid construction in which the openingof one lid prevents the opening of an adjacent lid, there being providedrelease mechanisms for counterbalancing springs associated with thelids.

Other objects will appear from the disclosure.

According to the present invention, a pair of containers, one within theother, provide adjacent compartments suitable for food and refrigerant.Lids for the compartments are pivotally attached on alined aXes toextend in the same direction fromthe axes in closed position. Arouatestraps extend from the inner sides of lids and are slotted adjacent thelids. A pin extends between the straps with its ends partially in theslots. When the one lid is opened, the end of .the pin moves out of theslot and the pin is moved longitudinally by contact with the strapfurther into the slot in the other strap, so that movement of the latterstrap to release the pin from engagement with the slot is impossible andthe lid is locked in closed position against the compartment.Counterbalancing springs are connected to the lids and containers, so asto hold the lids ,in open position. A mechanism is provided forreleasing the action of the ccunterbalancing springs when the doors aremoved nearly into closed position.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional View taken along the line I---I of Figure 3, butwith the lids closed;

Figure 2 is a similar section with one lid in open position;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, but with thesame lid partially open;

Figure 4 shows in detail a locking pin;

Figure 5 shows a sleeve for the locking pin;

Figure 6 shows a bell-crank member for re-,

leasing a counterbalancing spring;

Figure 7 is a detail, showing a member on which the locking pin ismounted;

Figure 8 is a perspective view, showing how the locking pin is mounted;and,

Figure 9 is a detail, showing a connecting piece for a counterbalancingspring.

A dry tank I for food is mounted within a refrigerant tank II in amanner not completely shown, since it forms no part of the presentinvention. In any event, the tanks are so arranged as to form separatecompartments for food and refrigerant. A lid l3 covers the foodcompartment, and a lid M, the refrigerant compartment. The lids arehinged on alined axes, as at l5. Secured to the under side of the lidsl3 and M, respectively, are arcuate straps l1 and I8, the centers ofwhich fall on the alined pivot axes l of the lids. Each strap is slottednear its point of attachment to the lid, as at [9, with a sloping grooveextending from the slot on the surface facing the other .strap.

The dry tank I!) has a flange 2|, by means of which the tank issupported at one side on a pair of angle irons 22 and 23, having endportions 22' and 23' resting on the refrigerant tank I]. As shown inFigure 7 for the angle iron 22, the angle iron 23 being similarlyformed, there is a threaded opening 24 and an elongated slot 25 with acircular portion 26 at one end. Secured opposite this circular portionto angle iron 23 is a U-shaped member 28 with a registering opening anda slot 29 receiving the arcuate strap [8, as shown in Figure 8. A shorttubular section 30 is secured in the opening 26 of the angle members 22and 23 and the registering opening of the U-shaped member 28, and isalmost as long as the distance between the straps H and I8,

There is an elongated opening 3| in the tubular section 33 nearer theend which is opposite the strap H (see Figures 3 and 5). 33 ispositioned within the tubular section and has an opening 34 opposite theopening 3| in the tubular section. There are reduced ends 35 and 36 onthe locking pin 33, which extend partly through the slots l9 in thearcuate straps I1 and 18 when the lids are both in closed position. ,Aspring member 38 extends into the opening 34 in the pin 33 and has aneye portion 39, through which a bolt 46 extends and is secured to theangle members 22 and 23, securing the spring member thereto. The springmember tends to retain the locking pin 33 in a central position betweenthe straps 3'? and 38, and yet allows it some movement along its lengthinto and out of the slots :3 in the arcuate members ii and [8.

Clips 41 are welded to the ends of the members l1 and i3 and retain, bymeans of pins 42 passing through holes 42 in legs 43, bolts 44 fastenedto one end of counterbalancing springs 45. Bolts 46 connect the otherend of the springs and brackets 41, secured to the angle members 22 and23. The arrangement is such that either lid tends to stay in the openposition of Figure 2, for in this position the clips 43 are closest tothe brackets 41. When the lid is shut, the spring is caused to elongateand resist the movement to closed position. In order that thecounterbalancing action may be released in closed position, bell-crankmember shown in detail in Figure 6, and nut 5| on bolt 44 are provided.The bellerank member 5B is pivoted on the angle members 22 and 23, as at52. As the lid l4 moves to closed position, the end of the arcuate strap[8 strikes an end portion 54 of the bell-crank member 50, which isspaced a considerable distance from the pivot at 52. The bolt 44 passesbetween legs 55 with the nut 5| resting against the legs when closedposition has been reached. In this position, the distance between thecontact of the nut 5| and legs 55 and pivot point 52 is small incomparison with the distance between pivot point 52 and. the point ofcontact of strap I8 on end portion 54 of the bell-crank member.Consequently, in the closed position or in the approach to closedposition, the effective lever arm at which the spring 45 acts is smallin comparison with the lever arm on which pressure applied to the coveracts, and the ability of the spring to resist closing force to the coveris considerably reduced. The mechanical advantage of the lid in respectto the spring is considerable.

When the lids are in closed position, the locking pin 33 occupies amid-position between the straps I1 and I8 because of the action of thespring 38, with the ends 35 and 36 extending through the openings [9 inthe straps l1 and I8 to a point opposite the sloping grooves 20. Whenlid [4, for example, as shown in Figure 3, is raised, the reduced end 36of the pin 33 is able to slide out of the holes I9 of the strap I8 bypassing along sloping groove 20. However, as this happens, the lockingpin 33 is moved longitudinally farther into the opening 19 of strap llbeyond the groove 20. If an attempt is now made to raise lid (3, the endportion 35 of pin 33 is not in a position to slide out of hole E9 ofstrap I! by passing over sloping portion 20, and consequently strap I!and lid l3 are locked against movement. If now lid I4 is lowered toclosed position, end portion'36 of locking pin 33 moves back into holeIQ of strap [8, and end portion 35, partially out of hole IQ of strapll. Now,

A locking pin lid [3 may be raised, since end portion 35 of pin 33 is ina position to slide out of hole I9 along sloping groove 20. When thishappens, locking pin 33 is moved far enough into strap [8 to lock it andlid 14 against movement.

It may be considered that the sloping groove 20 adjacent the hole IS inone strap [8 constitutes means for displacing the end of the pin 33 inthe hole to bring the other end of the pin into locked engagement withthe hole I9 in the other arcuate strap 18.

In the open position of lid l4 of Figure 2, clip 4| contacts U-shapedmember 28 and lid l4 rests against a stop 51. Thus, the opening of thelid is limited. A similar stop for limiting the movement of lid [3 isalso provided.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that a novel structurehas been provided in which one lid of a pair of lids is locked in closedposition, while the other lid is open, and the counterbalancing actionof springs on the lids is reduced as the lids are closed. The inventionhas been shown in connection with a refrigerator, but it is to beunderstood that the invention is applicable wherever lids or closuresare used.

The invention is to be limited only to the terms of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lock for use with a container having a pair of lids positionedin side-by-side relation and extending in the same direction from alinedpivot axes on the container, a pair of arcuate members extending fromthe under side of the lids with their centers of curvature on the alinedpivot axes of the lids and having alined holes in their closed position,a pin extending between the arcuate members with its ends extendingpartially through the holes in the members, and means supporting the pinand tending to maintain it in a mid-position between the arcuatemembers, each arcuate member having adjacent the hole therein means fordisplacing the end of the pin in the hole to bring the other end of thepin into locked engagement with the hole in the other arcuate member.

2. In a lock for use with a container having a pair of lids positionedin side-by-side relation and extending in the same direction from alinedpivot axes on the container, a pair of arcuate members extending fromthe under side of the lids on centers of curvature coinciding with thepivot axes of the lids regardless of the position of the lids and havingalined holes in closed position and shallow sloping grooves extendingfrom the holes on the surfaces toward one another in a direction awayfrom the lids, a pin extending between the lids with its ends extendingpartially through the holes in the arcuate members in the closedposition of the lids, and means supporting the pin and tending to holdit in a mid-position between the arcuate members.

3. In a lock for use with a container having a pair of lids hinged onthe container on alined axes and extending in the same direction fromthe axes in closed position, a pair of arcuate straps extending inwardlyfrom the lids with centers of curvature along the alined hinge axes andhaving slots adjacent the lids, a pin extending between the straps withits ends partially extending through the slots in the straps, meansconnecting the container and the pin for maintaining the pin in acentral position with respect to the straps, and a sleeve surroundingthe pin and extending between the straps, each arcuate member havingadjacent the slot therein means for displacing the end of the pin in theslot to bring the other end of the pin into locked engagement with theslot in the other arcuate member.

4. In a lock for use with a container having a pair of lids positionedin side-by-side relation and pivoted on the container, a pair of rigidmembers extending from the lids into the containers and having alinedpin-receiving portions in the closed position of the lids, a pinextending between the 10

